Aluminum vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum

Compare Aluminum vs. DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum3D printed metal (DMLS)

Mechanical	Aluminum	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Yield strength	276MPa1	270MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	310MPa1	450MPa245% stronger
Elongation at break	17%11.67x more ductile	10.2%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	68.3GPa1	72GPa3
Density	2,700kg/m³1	2,670kg/m³4
Strength to weight	102kN·m/kg1% higher	101kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg	27MN·m/kg7% higher
Poisson's ratio	0.335	base material0.335
Shear modulus	25.7GPa	27.1GPa5% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	67GPa	70.6GPa5% higher
Speed of sound	5,030m/s	5,193m/s3% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Thermal conductivity	167W/m·K11.52x more heat through a fin	110W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	23.6µm/m·K1	mean 25-100 °C20µm/m·K218% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	118µm growth	100µm growth18% less
Specific heat	896J/kg·K1	base material963J/kg·K5
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	69mm²/s1.61x faster	42.8mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	19,159W/m39% more resistant	13,819W/m
Melting point	solidus-liquidus582–652°C1	not sourced

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources5 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, EOS GmbH, Renishaw, U.S. Department of Defense

Aluminum: 6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum: EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg (powder 9011-0024), EOS M 290 | 30 µm process (AlSi10Mg_FlexM291 2.01), as manufactured, horizontal; machined (turned) specimens, ISO 6892-1 B10

1
Alloy 6061 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum · Elongation at break: typical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimenAluminum · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum · Density: nominalAluminum · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
2
EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data SheetEOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Yield strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Elongation at break: typical at break, as manufactured, horizontalDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Thermal conductivity: typical, as manufactured, horizontal (ISO 22007-2)DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Thermal expansion: mean 25-100 °C, ASTM E228
3
RenAM 500 Series Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data SheetRenishawDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Young's modulus (stiffness): same material and process, different machine maker: Renishaw RenAM 500, 30 µm, as built, horizontal (XY)
4
EOS Aluminium AlSi10Mg Material Data Sheet, FlexLine, M 290 (2018)EOS GmbHarchived copyDMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Density: typical part density (ISO 3369), EOS M 290, AlSi10Mg_030_FlexM291 (30 µm)
5
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Poisson's ratio: base material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (Al-9Si-0.6Mg, closest MIL-HDBK-5J alloy to AlSi10Mg / EN AC-43000)DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum · Specific heat: base material: cast Al-Si-Mg alloy 359.0 (MIL-HDBK-5J), at 100 °C

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Aluminum stronger than DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

Aluminum is stronger: its yield strength is 276 MPa against 270 MPa for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum (2%).

Which is lighter, Aluminum or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter: 2,670 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 72 GPa against 68.3 GPa for Aluminum, so the same part in DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum is lighter for a strong rod or tie; DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum	DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	7% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	4% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	3% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1% heavier
Strong beam	about equal	about equal
Strong panel or plate	about equal	about equal

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which is more ductile, Aluminum or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

Aluminum stretches further before it breaks: 17% elongation at break against 10.2% for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum or DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum?

Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 110 W/m·K for DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum.

Which expands less with temperature?

DMLS AlSi10Mg Aluminum expands less: 20 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum.